Written by NM Watchman Jose Vasquez
Last evening, Wednesday, April 24, 2013, the Santa Fe City Council passed a non-binding Resolution recommending that New Mexico County Clerks and the New Mexico Attorney General implement same-sex marriage in New Mexico. The Resolution passed with
5 FOR
1 AGAINST
2 ABSTENTIONS.
The resolution is based on what we consider a false premise: “New Mexico marriage laws do not define marriage as between a man and a woman.”
Each Councilor, with the exception of Councilor Chris Calvert, spoke to the issue. Their votes, rationales and religious affiliations are summarized as follows:
MAYOR David Coss:
VOTE: The Mayor only votes if a tie, Mayor Coss however led the charge
RATIONALE: Wants to “walk my daughter down the aisle” in a marriage to another woman.
RELIGION: Member, Saint John’s Catholic Church Santa Fe
COUNCILOR Pattie Bushee- Sponsor
VOTE: FOR
RATIONALE: Wants to marry another woman.
RELIGION: Raised Catholic – No known church affiliation
COUNCILOR Ron Trujillo – Sponsor
VOTE: FOR
RATIONALE: Claimed child abuse in heterosexual marriage was as problematic as same-sex marriage.
RELIGION: San Isidro Catholic Church
COUNCILOR Chris Calvert – Sponsor
VOTE: FOR
RATIONALE: Moved to adopt the motion.
RELIGION: Church of Antioch at Santa Fe (Metaphysical church)
MAYOR PRO TEM Rebecca Wurzburger
VOTE: FOR
RATIONALE: Equated the opposition with southern racism.
RELIGION: Raised Southern Baptist, not currently affiliated
COUNCILOR Peter Ives
VOTE: ABSTAINED
RATIONALE: Gave up the position of Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Frances rather than stand for traditional marriage.
RELIGION: Member, Cathedral Basilica of Saint Frances
COUNCILOR Bill Dimas
VOTE: ABSTAINED
RATIONALE: Has a 37-year-old homosexual stepson. Could not bring himself to vote against his wife and her son.
RELIGION: Member, Santa Maria de la Paz
Councilor Christopher Rivera
VOTE: AGAINST (Only member voting NO)
RATIONALE: Only councilor who stood in opposition to the Resolution. Based decision on biblical principles.
God bless you today.
Jose Vasquez
‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? Matthew 19:5